Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-09-24
Sleeping Wonders.

slseping Wonders.
Sleep In most individuals lasts for the
space Of eight hours. Exceptions 10
this statement are numerous; whether
these arise from duty or laziness we
shall not venture to examine. Sir E.
Codrington. the famous naval officer,
when midshipman, could watch on
deck for nineteen hours; this left only
Eve for sleep, which in his case was
most profound-so profound that no
noise was sufficiently strong to waken
him; yet If the word "Signal'' was
whispered in his ear he awoke and was
on deck instantly.
Reporters of the House of Commons
require great exertions to keep them
selves from sleeping A few years ago
. distinguished member of 1.-THE gentle
men in the gallery''took down speech
while he was sleeping. His statement
rests on his oath.
Calvin tells of friend Of his read
ing aloud to him while asleep. The
organ OF vision was alone active.
Coleridge. the dreaming philosopher.
composed "Cubla Khan Zone of his
poems) while fast asleep. Next morn
ing he was sure there had been an ac-
QUESTION to his literature, but was too
negligent to write the stanzas. A few
days afterward he attempted to recall
the verses. but they had the most part
fled, and the poem AZ it now stands is
but fragment.
Every one knows that extreme fa-
tigue induces sleep, and this in spite of
surrounding relations. which in ordina-
~ circumstances would hinder any one
from resting. Previous to the shorten
ing Of the hours of work, factory chill
dren frequently fell asleep while work
ing at the machines. although we'll
aware that they would incur severe
punishment by doing SO. The North
American Indian. Mt the stake of tor
ture. has been known to 60 to sleep OH
the least remission Of agony, and VIII
slumber until the fire is applied to
awaken him.
1t is on record that during the heat
OF the battle of the Nile some of the
over-fatigued boys fell asleep upon the
deck, and during the attack upon RAM
COON. in the Burmese war, the captain
of one of the steam frigateS most active-
ly engaged. worn out by excess of con-
tinued mental tension. fell asleep and
remained perfectly unconsc. GUS for two
hours, within yard of his largest
guns, which were being worked cner-
getically the whole period.
Habit and time. place and circum-
stances predispose us all to sleep. The
celebrated pedestrian. Captain Barclay.
uyh 1ic hin I, avt, 1rli
feat Of walking l. OOO miles in rs many
successive hours, obtained at last such
a mastery over himself that lie fell
asleep the instant he lay down. The
DOCTORS wife never hears the door bell
during the night. although the noise is
sufficient to rouse the wearied hus band;
but should . child in the nursery cry.
then the mother, oblivious to all
ether sounds, hears at once the infants
voice.
1t is related that the Able Faria. who
acquired notoriety through his power
of inducing somnambulism, was accus-
toned merely to place his patient in an
armchair, after telling him to shut his
eyes and collect himself, and pronounce
on strong voice, 'dormez," which
was usually successful.
There seems to be no limit to the
wonders displayed by men in sleeping.
Condercet the mathematician. solved
one of his most difficult problems while
asleep-a problem, too. which puzzled
him during his waking hours. "A pro-
lessor of theology in the University of
Basic once wrote q sermon while
asleep; he found 1t ON his desk next
morning. The preceding night he
could not grapple with the subject as
he desired, but the performance of his
sleeping hours was quite satisfactory to
him.
Jenny Lind was one of the most cele-
brated singers of her time. No one
could rival her powers except factory
girl who sang sonnet mes better than
the famous Jenny. The girl could not
attempt any difficult pieces when
awake. but when sleeping she sang so
correctly, SO like the renowned artistic,
that it was difficult to distinguish be-
tween their voices. On one occasion
Mile. Lind heard the girl. and even
tested the accuracy Of her powers by
giving her long and elaborate chro-
matte exercise. This the sleeping girl
performed. much to the wonder Of the
famous Swedish singer. TEL
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